Post navigation

Part Two – From the Top of the Mountain

Continued – Yet, with all of my thoughts of planning and preparation for the New Year, it was God who had done the planning. He had prepared my heart weeks before.A day after the accident, I was standing in the hospital room and a memory flooded my mind. I was back in my bedroom, a few weeks before our trip, putting away clothes and God spoke to my heart. I remember the deep emotion that came with such a personal and humbling word that God spoke to me.

In room 205 at St. Anthony Summit Medical Center, after the first surgery of four, I stood looking at my husband lying in the hospital bed. The memory of the words from God pierced my thoughts. Silently I responded to God, “So this is why You spoke those words to me a few weeks ago. This is it.”

In an instant, I understood why God had spoken that particular message to me. At the time, I thought I would simply try to do better than I had lately. Yes, I would add it to the growing list of my New Year’s resolutions.

Now, blinking back tears and swallowing hard, I promised God, “I will do it. I will do what you told me only I can do.”What He spoke to me as I was in my bedroom weeks earlier is so personal that I hesitate to share it.

I remember exactly where I was standing when God directed my thoughts toward the losses my husband has endured.

When he was sixteen, his father died after suffering from leukemia, believed to be a result of Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam.

A few years ago, his oldest sister passed away from the cancer that had ravaged her body for months. My husband and his oldest sister had a bond that comes from sharing the same faith in God. Although my husband has three more siblings, unfortunately they don’t see one another often.

In the spring of 2008, his mother passed away. She, too, had been in and out of the hospital several times before she passed from this life.

Although my parents have their health challenges, especially my precious mother, they are still on this earth and I can call them anytime for a quick chat or a long conversation. I never doubt their love and they tell me frequently they are proud of me. It was my parents who drove hours to our home to stay with our children when I returned to the hospital in CO.

When God pointed out the losses my husband has dealt with, He also pointed something else out.

He started with a question. “If you don’t love him with everything you have, who will?No one else on this earth can love him like you can. LOVE HIM LIKE NO ONE ELSE.”

And that was it. But with that, I thought about the times my actions were right but my heart was not. I thought about instances where I did not honor my husband like I should have. I thought about times I had turned away from him instead of to him.

Of course I know there is no perfect marriage because there are no perfect people. And even healthy relationships have their peaks and valleys. Ours certainly has. But there was not just a do~ing better that was needed here. Yet not the extreme requirement of a heart transplant. Just something of a heart make-over.Soften the lines,smooth out the creases, bring the color back, plump it up…A heart~lift.

Someone asked me recently why I think this happened. This is my response to that question. “Accidents happen. I don’t believe God caused it and I don’t believe it was an attack of the enemy. Accidents happen because we live in this world. But God knew it was going to take place. And in His kindness, He prepared me in advance to care for my husband through the healing process. Through the good times in life and through the bad, we have the opportunity to grow and to learn. If we are teachable, we will learn. God will redeem the right and the best from anything we experience. Will the enemy try to take advantage of the situation? He will most certainly use every trick he can. But we are alwaysthe victors through Christ.”

These past few days One Fine Man has been in a lot of pain. The pain at the wound site wakes him up. Last night he suffered terribly and we watched the clock for when he could take another pain pill. I moved closer to him, warming him and resting my hand on his chest. I began to pray for God to intervene. I hated to see him suffer and hated my helplessness. I asked if there was any thing I could do for him. He said, “Just stay beside me.” In the dark, tears sprang to my eyes and I shifted closer. I thought again about God’s words to me. LOVE HIM LIKE NO ONE ELSE.

I do. I will.

Sometimes God prepares our hearts in ways we cannot fathom for events we would not choose. What is God preparing your heart for?

Days after you posted this I come across it. The Lord has me there…remembering to love my husband like no one else can. I have an amazing marriage, but as a high school student talked to me on Friday about girlfriend troubles he said, “…it’s the little things that make me feel loved…”. This weekend I just kept thinking on those words. I remembered the little things that my husband loved when we were dating 13 years ago and tried to act on some of them.Thank you for your message. It brought me to tears.

http://www.blogger.com/profile/17191555760519183027 Tracie Miles

What an amazing post. It is certainly something I needed to hear today. I know that my husband needs me to love him like noone else, but often I forget that in the midst of busy ordinary daily life stuff. Thank you for this reminder. I hope your husband is doing much better now and healing well. Take care.

http://www.blogger.com/profile/17989264314923431685 LillyB

Thank you for sharing these times with us. We are able to see God work in your life and recognize His work more in ours!God Bless you. I am praying for your family!

http://www.blogger.com/profile/11154092288646304188 Edie

Melanie your writing always touches my heart. Thank you for sharing this very personal time. It brought tears to my eyes. Praying for you both.

http://www.blogger.com/profile/16043208077641628180 Julie Gillies

Oh Melanie, there is nothing worse than watching those we love suffer. But I praise God for your tender yet powerful testimony. God can and does work ALL things out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

I pray that your husband gets relief, and that understands how very much you (and the Lord) love him.

http://www.blogger.com/profile/04112514946365838427 Melissa Miller

Oh Melanie you are an amazing writer. I have tears.Thank you for sharing with us.

I’ll be praying for your husbands continued recovery.

Have a blessed Sunday.~Melissa

http://www.blogger.com/profile/08263995875732832349 Laura

Bella Mella (smile), I have been getting to know you through your posts and must say that the Beauty in you shines–as well as your devotion to Him. such an appropriate name. I am so very glad you stopped by the Wellblog because your story has blessed me tremendously. I leave with some fresh tears and a new resolve to love my mine the best I can!

Wow, Melanie! I certainly believe that God sends certain people in our lives to minister to and bless us, and you have done just that! I have enjoyed reading over your posts through January, and you have spoke to my heart. I am so terribly sorry for the accident and what your husband, you, and your family are going through. But I am so amazed at the way God is using it through your words and writings! My prayers are with you all, especially your husband as he continues to heal and deal with the pain!

Thanks for dropping by my blog, and I will be back! God bless! ~Rhonda

http://www.blogger.com/profile/02806263533922265424 lisasmith

Melanie,

Such a great story, drew me to tears! I also saw the significance of “love him like no other.” The truth is even if he was surrounded by relatives loving him, we are still called to love our husbands like no other.

I think the same is true with our God. We each possess uniqueness and creativity that God put inside of only us. I want to use that to love Him like no other!

Thank you for sharing. I will definitely be back to read more!!

Blessings this weekend!

http://www.blogger.com/profile/11731599578977717520 RosyRose

Melanie~ Thanks for sharing the journey you are walking! Love him like no one else….thanks for that reminder and inspiration! So true! He is lucky to have you!

http://www.blogger.com/profile/08910644413175366761 Sandy

Amazing how God orchestrates it all. Thank you for sharing it all w/us Mel – really it’s been inspirational (I decided to go to Bliss conf!)

http://www.blogger.com/profile/02507070731610940526 tt

Melanie, God is so amazing! Thanks for sharing, throught sharing you inspire others. Love you and I am praying for you and your family. Need anything please call.

http://www.blogger.com/profile/00458659497370768232 Kelly Combs

Waaaaaa! You're just making me cry. That is so sweet & so amazing and so GOD! How wonderful for him to prepare you for this walk you are on.

Thank you for sharing something very personal.

http://www.blogger.com/profile/03607690595362400211 Spring M Fricks

Well, it was your turn to make me cry. I guess we are even.

What an awesome gift for God to give you.

http://www.blogger.com/profile/17323556614583246461 B His Girl

I enjoy your writing very much Melanie. I pray your husband is better. Is that wings, butterfly wings behind both of you in the photo? If so, that is significant for both of you.God is opening new doors for me in ministry. He is calling me to step inside the new things. He has been preparing me for this for a long time. Thank you for appreciating my creativity. It is God given and He is showing me how He wants to use it.

http://www.blogger.com/profile/13682296763369964666 Mel

thank you for your amazing transparency and willingness to share what God told you.